Even if Chilean fruit crop damage from September frosts was already quantifiable, the numbers would still not paint a clear picture of the upcoming winter fruit marketing season.

Making this observation Oct. 10 was Brad Cantwell, vice president of deciduous sales-North America for Dole Fresh Fruit Co., who is based immediately south of Philadelphia in Lester, PA.

As to estimates on crop damage, Cantwell confirmed that many different sources are offering widely varying numbers.

"There is crazy information out there now," he said. "But the jury is still out."

The New England Produce Council announced that beginning in 2014, it will hold its annual expo in the fall at a venue in Newport, RI.

On Oct. 10 Laura Sullivan, executive director of the New England Produce Council, headquartered in Burlington, MA, told The Produce News that the council is making a major venue change to its annual NEPC Produce & Floral Expo in 2014.

The California Avocado Society presented its 2013 Award of Honor to California Avocado Commission Vice President of Marketing Jan DeLyser at its 98th annual meeting Sept. 28 in Ventura, CA.

The United Fresh Produce Association honored Del Monte Fresh Produce as the Produce Industry Advocate of the Year at the Washington Public Policy Conference.

Del Monte Fresh Produce has been a long-time leader in the public policy arena, serving on the United Fresh Nutrition & Health Council, Food Safety & Technology Council and Fresh-Cut Processor Board. Tom Stenzel, United Fresh Produce Association president and chief executive officer, presented the award to Dave Russell, Del Monte Fresh Produce vice president of sales, national accounts.

Valley Fruit & Produce, a full-line wholesale distributor based in Los Angeles, announced the hiring of DON STALCUP as division manager and RAY IWAMOTO as berry category manager.

Stalcup has 46 years of retail produce experience, including 25 years at Albertsons as head of the produce department and the corporate trainer. After Albertsons, he served as vice president of produce for Food 4 Less, followed by a period serving in the same capacity for KV Mart.

At Valley, Stalcup is overseeing all aspects of retail management.

George Wooten, president of Wayne E. Bailey, headquartered in Chadbourn, NC, seems to always be coming up with some new way to utilize sweet potatoes, but this time he may have even outdone himself.

On Sept. 18, he told The Produce News that his daughter, Mary Margaret Wooten, was married to Anthony Lynn Nealey the previous weekend, and sweet potatoes had a lot to do with the affair.